BP4 QTR4: Research and Interpretation-Geography

Location: 
Switzerland is in the middle of Europe, surrounded by France, Liechtenstein, Italy, Austria, and Germany at47° 00' North and 8° 00' East.

Area: Switzerland has an area of 41,277 sq km

Area-Comparative: 
The U.S. is  3.719 million mi squared and is the 3rd largest country in the world. Switzerland has and area of
15937 mi squared and is the 135th largest country in the world.
 

Land Boundaries: Switzerland's land boundries is 1,852 km Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

Climate: The temperature in Switzerland is about 8.6 °C (47 °F) The highest monthly average of high temperature is 23 °C (73 °F) in July & August.The lowest monthly average of low temperature is -4 °C (25 °F) in January. Switzerland's climate gets about 986 mm (38.8 in) of rainfall per year, or 82 mm (3.2 in) per month.

Terrain:

 Switzerland has a hilly, mountainous  terrain, and with glacial, and lush, green growth. So Switzerland consists mostly of hills, lakes, mountain, and plain.

Natural Resources: Switzerland's natural resources are hydro-power potential, timber, salt

Land Use: 
arable land: 9.91%
permanent crops: 0.58%
permanent pastures:
forests and woodland:
other: 89.51%

Environment-Current Issues:Switzerlands currant enviorment issues include air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity

Environment-International Agreements: Switzerland is involved with Biodiversity, Marine Life Conservation, Air Pollution, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Wetlands, Whaling, Tropical Timber, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air Pollution-Sulphur, 
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants  Nuclear Test Ban, Law of the Sea, and Desertification.

Natural Hazards:  Switzerland could have many natural hazards like avalanches, landslides; and flash floods.


Cites- 
http://www.indexmundi.com/switzerland/natural_resources.html
http://www.climatetemp.info/switzerland/
http://www.mapsofworld.com/lat_long/switzerland-lat-long.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_terrain_of_Switzerland
http://www.indexmundi.com/switzerland/environment_current_issues.html
http://www.interopp.org/htm/env_agreements.htm

BP3 QTR4: Research and Interpretation-General Information

 

Country Name: My country is called the Swiss Confederation, or Switzerland.


Nationality: People in Switzerland are called Swiss (singular and plural).

Languages: In Switzerland, there are many different languages including- German, French, Italian, and Rumantsch.

Flag Description: The Switzerland flag is quite simple. It has a bright red back round, and in the middle is a white cross, or plus sign.


Background:  Have you ever heard the saying "I'm Switzerland!" Switzerland is a neutral country, meaning they don't pick sides between countries at war, so when people say that, they mean they won't pick sides during a fight or something. The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 and secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. Switzerland was not involved in either of the World Wars.  During World War I there was serious tension between the German, French, and Italian speaking parts of the country and Switzerland almost violated its neutrality but it managed to stay out of hostilities. Switzerland industrialized rapidly during the 19th century and by 1850 had become the second most industrialized country in Europe after Great Britain. Switzerland waited until 1963 to join the Council of Europe. Switzerland did not join the United Nations for many decades. Switzerland joined the Bretton Woods institutions in 1992, and then finally became a member of the United Nations in 2002.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3431.htm
http://official-swiss-national-languages.all-about-switzerland.info/index.html
http://www.ed-u.com/country-names.htm


 

BP2 QTR4: UN Quick Write

  The United Nations is a very important group effecting almost every ones lives. The United Nations (U.N.) is made up of almost all of the countries in the world. The U.N. tries to maintain international peace, to try to get countries to be friendly with each other, and to try to solve international problems. The United Nations feels that, no matter how poor or small a country/nation is, it still has a voice and a has a say in the development of the world. The U.N. is still very important to our world today because it helps solve problems and is working towards peace.


   The U.N. holds regular meetings to talk about the world's most serious problems. Each member of the UN has a vote on the topic they are discussing. At the meetings, they decide and vote on the item of discussion. They try their best to work out the problems of the world and send help to the places of need. The UN tries to make peace as best as they can  because we all need to be kind to one another and help out to have a successful world. If we don't have kindness what do we have? Fighting and killing and war and uncontrollable madness. Who wants to live in a world like that? It's the UN's job to try to complete this mission. The UN is a much more effective group than the other group made to try to accomplish this task so it is very important today.

   The UN is just a group trying to get us to all get along. We all fight over stupid little things from who took the last cookie to who can have oil for their country. If we could just all get along i think the world would be a better place, and that's exactly what the UN is trying to do.